Students Compete For Technology Awards

FAMILIAR FACES

July 27, 1998

Hall Memorial School students from Willington were among more than 2,500 participants at the 20th Annual National Technology Students Association conference held recently in Pittsburgh. The association is a 110,000-member organization of elementary-, middle- and high-school students who are or have been enrolled in technology-education courses. Its goal is technological leadership and personal growth. Attending the conference from Hall Memorial School was Ruben Gaztambide, chapter president; Keith Norman, chapter reporter; and Phil Monty, their adviser.

Also attending from Willington was Brian Grabel, state president and a junior at E.O. Smith High School in Storrs. Students competed for awards in more than 30 events, on two levels. A certificate of appreciation was given to Phil Monty for attending the past 20 national conferences and starting the first association chapter in the state and seventh place in mechanical challenge to Keith Norman and Ruben Gaztambide. Monty was also named adviser of the year. Hall Memorial School also had a booth at the conference for the past 20 years.

* A photographic essay on volunteerism, a three-dimensional poster on recycling and a poem about poverty took home top honors by St. Bernard School students in a recent awards ceremony of the 1998 National Junior American Citizen Contest. The national contest, was sponsored by the Daughters of the American Revolution. The winners and descriptions of their winning projects follow: First place: Tawny Boulanger (grade 7), photographic essay captured practical ways citizens can improve the world around them through volunteerism, visiting the elderly, caring for nature and collecting food and clothing for the poor. Second place: Jeffrey Buell (grade 8), three-dimensional poster illustrated the future of recycling and what can be done with recycled material. Francine Hegarty (grade 7), poem described what poverty is and how it can be improved. Jeremy Sprague (grade 5), photographic essay on natural gas. Honorable mentions: Thomas Burney(grade 8), poster addressed racism, equality, fairness, violence. Sophie Burris(grade 6), short story about a young girl from New York who participates in a new U.S. presidential program requesting kids' input for the new millennium. Gregory Champion (grade 7), poster described how studying new planets can help with energy conservation. Melissa Moesher(grade 8), banner depicted a mulitcultural world working together as one family. Matthew West (grade 8), poem expressed a hopeful view of the future. Students received cash prizes from the national and local chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution, as well as certificates of participation.

* This year, 23 Manchester students have been awarded scholarship grants totaling $3,500 from two trust funds created by the will of the late Helen M. Fitzpatrick, a former member of the Manchester Board of Directors. The recipients and the school they will be attending are: Assumption School: Robert Ieraci, Nathaniel Higgins, Rebeca Higgins, Stella Luckie, Samantha Spacone and Catherine Vicki. East Catholic High School: Colin McNamara and John Kehoe. St. Bridget School: Lindsey Cosgrove, Andrew Comollo, Raymond Boucher, Matthew Fairbanks and Joshua McVeigh. St. James School: David Leal, Nicole Leal, Jessica Batchelor, Kathryn Batchelor, Daniel Beckers, Daphne Beckers, Melissa Beckers, Paul Sullivan Jr., Stephen Bimonte and Dale Jordan.

Years of Service awards were handed out the the following people at the annual banquet. Sharon Breault, Diana Dlugolenski and Denise Rioux for 15 years of service; Cindy Munro for 10 years; and John Rachek for 5 years. * Sue Clark from Coventry High School attended the Future Homemakers of Americas' 1998 National Leadership meeting July 5 through 9 in New Orleans. She received the 1998 Spirit of Advising Award, given to one chapter adviser from each state.